Liquid crystal display panel and method for fabricating the same comprising a dummy column spacer to regulate a liquid crystal flow and a supplemental dummy column spacer formed substantially parallel and along the dummy column spacer

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display panel and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed in the present invention. The liquid crystal display panel includes first and second substrates facing into each other, a column spacer in a pixel region between the substrates, a dummy column spacer in a dummy region between the substrates, a UV sealant formed outside the dummy column spacer between the substrates, and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates.

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application Nos.P2001-80227 filed on Dec. 17, 2001, and P2002-16095 filed on Mar. 25,2002, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display, and moreparticularly, to a liquid crystal display panel and a method forfabricating the same by using a liquid crystal dropping method.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

A thin flat panel display tends to have a thickness of no more than afew centimeters. Particularly, a liquid crystal display (LCD) has a widescope of applications, such as notebook computers, computer monitors,gauge monitors for space crafts, and air crafts, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, an LCD is provided with a lower substrate 1 havinga plurality of thin film transistors and pixel electrodes formedthereon, an upper substrate 3 facing into the lower substrate 1 having ablack matrix (BM), a color filter layer, and a common electrode, and aliquid crystal layer 5 between the two substrates 1 and 3. A sealant 7is formed between the lower and upper substrates 1 and 3, to bond thesubstrates and prevent the liquid crystal from leaking.

In the foregoing LCD, a vacuum injection method has been used forforming the liquid crystal layer between the lower substrate 1 and theupper substrate 3. In such a method, after the lower substrate 1 and theupper substrate 3 are bonded together, a liquid crystal is injectedbetween the two substrates by using capillary phenomenon and a pressuredifference. However, the vacuum injection method takes much time to fillthe liquid crystal between the substrates. As a result, productivity ismuch reduced as the substrate becomes large. Consequently, a methodcalled a liquid crystal dropping method is suggested for solving such aproblem. A method for fabricating an LCD panel by using a related artliquid crystal dropping method will be explained with reference to theattached drawings.

FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate perspective views showing a method forfabricating an LCD panel by using a related art liquid crystal droppingmethod. For convenience, only one unit cell is illustrated in thedrawings.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a lower substrate 1 and an upper substrate 3 areprepared for the process. A plurality of gate lines and data lines (bothnot shown) are formed on the lower substrate 1 to cross each otherdefining pixel regions. A thin film transistor is formed at everycrossing point of the gate lines and the data lines. A pixel electrodeis formed at every pixel regions connected to the thin film transistor.

A black matrix is formed on the upper substrate 3 for shielding a lightleakage from the gate lines, the data lines, and the thin filmtransistors regions. A color filter layer of red, green, and blue isformed thereon. A common electrode is formed thereon in this order. Analignment layer is formed on both of the lower substrate 1 and the uppersubstrate 3 for an initial orientation of the liquid crystal.

Referring to FIG. 2B, a sealant 7 is coated on the lower substrate 1,and a liquid crystal 5 is dropped thereon to form a liquid crystallayer. Then, spacers (not shown) are spread on the upper substrate 3 formaintaining a cell gap. The spacers may be ball spacers spread on thesubstrate, or column spacers attached to the substrate.

In the liquid crystal dropping method, the liquid crystal layer isplaced between the attached substrates before hardening a sealant.Accordingly, if a thermo-hardening sealant is used to bond thesubstrates, it may flow and contaminate the liquid crystal during theheating process. Thus, a UV sealant has to be used as a sealant to avoidsuch a problem.

Referring to FIG. 2C, the lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate 3are attached to each other. Referring to FIG. 2D, a UV ray is irradiatedby using a UV irradiating device 9, to harden the sealant 7 (shown inFIG. 1B), thereby bonding the lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate3. Then, the bonded substrates 1 and 3 are cut into a unit cell (notshown). A final inspection is carried out.

Thus, the liquid crystal dropping method takes less time period than thevacuum injection method because the liquid crystal 5 is directly droppedonto the lower substrate 1 before the substrates 1 and 3 are bonded.

However, the related art liquid crystal dropping method has thefollowing disadvantages caused by difficulty in determining an accurateamount of the liquid crystal depending upon a size of the substrate anda cell gap between the substrates.

First, if a dropped amount of the liquid crystal is less than therequired amount, regions of the substrate for the liquid crystal arefilled imperfectly. Particularly, there occur at four corners locatedfarthest from the center of the substrate. These deteriorate uniformityof the cell gap and picture characteristics.

Second, if the liquid crystal is dropped excessively, the liquid crystalcomes into contact with the sealant before the sealant is hardened.Thus, the liquid crystal is contaminated.

Third, even if the liquid crystal is dropped appropriately, it takestime to spread the liquid crystal from the center part of the substrateto the corners, the farthest spots. Accordingly, if the imperfectlyfilled region occurs as the liquid crystal is not spread to the cornerregions, a final inspection can not be carried out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a liquid crystaldisplay panel and a method for fabricating the same that substantiallyobviates one or more of problems due to limitations and disadvantages ofthe related art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystaldisplay panel and a method for fabricating the same to have a uniformcell gap and improved picture characteristics.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a liquidcrystal display panel includes first and second substrates facing intoeach other, a column spacer in a pixel region between the substrates, adummy column spacer in a dummy region between the substrates, a UVsealant outside the dummy column spacer between the substrates, and aliquid crystal layer between the substrates.

In another aspect of the present invention, a liquid crystal displaypanel includes first and second substrates facing into each other, aplurality of gate lines and data lines on the first substrate to crosseach other defining a pixel region, a thin film transistor at eachcrossed point of the gate lines and the data lines, a pixel electrode inthe pixel region, a black matrix on the second substrate, a color filterlayer on the black matrix, a third layer on the color filter layer, acolumn spacer on the third layer over a region vertically overlappingthe gate lines and the data lines, a dummy column spacer on the thirdlayer over the black matrix in a dummy region, a UV sealant outside thedummy column spacer between the substrates, and a liquid crystal layerbetween the substrates.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for fabricating aliquid crystal display panel includes forming a dummy region and a pixelregion on first and second substrates, the dummy region having a portionspaced apart from the first substrate, forming a column spacer and adummy column spacer on the second substrate, the column spacer formed inthe pixel region and the dummy column spacer formed in the dummy region,forming a UV sealant outside the dummy column spacer, applying a liquidcrystal on the first substrate, attaching the first and secondsubstrates, and irradiating a UV ray on the attached first and secondsubstrates.

As explained, since a dropping amount of the liquid crystal infabrication of the LCD panel by the related art liquid crystal droppingmethod is not readily controllable, the liquid crystal may not be filledproperly in the active region where a picture is reproduced.

Accordingly, the present invention suggests dropping more than an amountof liquid crystal measured according to a cell gap and a substrate sizefor preventing imperfect filling, and forming a dummy column spacer inthe dummy region to regulate a liquid crystal flow, for preventingimperfect or excessive filling of the liquid crystal.

Moreover, the regulation of the liquid crystal flow by the dummy columnspacer solves the problem of the contamination of the liquid crystal bythe contact with the UV sealant.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a related art LCD panel;

FIGS. 2A to 2D are perspective views illustrating a method forfabricating an LCD panel using a related art liquid crystal droppingmethod;

FIG. 3 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A to 4D are cross-sectional views taken along line IV—IV of FIG.3;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate plane views of an LCD panel in accordancewith a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with athird embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A to 7H are cross-sectional views taken along line VII—VII ofFIG. 6;

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate plane views of an LCD panel in accordancewith a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with afifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A to 10D are cross-sectional views taken along line X—X of FIG.9;

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate plane views of an LCD panel in accordancewith a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 12A to 12D are plane views of an LCD panel in accordance with aseventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 13A to 13D are perspective views illustrating a method forfabricating an LCD panel in accordance with an eighth embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating irradiating a UV ray in amethod for fabricating an LCD panel in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the illustrated embodiments ofthe present invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numberswill be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plane view of an LCD in accordance with a firstembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the LCD panel includes a lower substrate 100, anupper substrate 200, and a UV sealant 300 between the substrates 100 and200. Column spacers (not shown) are formed in a pixel region (a line ‘A’represents an imaginary line for indicating a pixel region), and a dummycolumn spacer 260 is formed inside the UV sealant 300 in the dummyregion to regulate a liquid crystal flow. A liquid crystal layer (notshown) is formed between the lower and upper substrates 100 and 200. Thecolumn spacer serves to maintain a cell gap between the lower substrate100 and the upper substrate 200.

The dummy column spacer 260 has a height the same as the column spacer.The dummy column spacer 260 may be formed at various locations toprovide a gap with the lower substrate 100, thereby regulating a liquidcrystal flow through the gap. Also, the dummy column spacer 260 mayserve as a path for the liquid crystal flow, thereby facilitating theliquid crystal flow at the corner regions of the substrates.

That is, as shown in arrows in the drawing, since the liquid crystalflows along the dummy column spacer 260, the liquid crystal reaches tothe corner regions of the substrates without difficulty. And, since theliquid crystal flows through the gap between the dummy column spacer 260and the lower substrate 100, the gap regulates the liquid crystal flowaccording to an amount of the liquid crystal.

The dummy column spacer 260 formed at the various locations foradjusting a required gap to the lower substrate 100 will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C which are cross-sectional views takenalong line IV—IV of FIG. 3 illustrating other embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 4A, a black matrix 210, a color filter layer 220, anda common electrode 230 are formed on the upper substrate 200 in thisorder. A plurality of gate lines, data lines, thin film transistors, andpixel electrodes (all not shown) are formed on the lower substrate 100.A plurality of column spacers 250 are formed in the pixel region on theupper substrate 200 each having a height of the cell gap. Since thecolumn spacers 250 are formed in regions of the gate lines and the datalines, the column spacers 250 are formed on the common electrode 230over the black matrix 210 on the upper substrate 200. A dummy columnspacer 260 is formed in the dummy region on the upper substrate 200 witha height the same as the column spacer 250.

More specifically, since the dummy column spacer 260 is formed on thecommon electrode 230 over the black matrix 210 in the dummy region, thedummy column spacer 260 is spaced apart from the lower substrate 100 asmuch as the height of the color filter layer 220. For example, thecolumn spacer 250 and the dummy column spacer 260 may be formed of aphotosensitive resin.

In the meantime, an overcoat layer may be additionally formed betweenthe color filter layer 220 and the common electrode 230 on the uppersubstrate 200, and alignment layers may be formed on the upper substrate200 inclusive of the column spacers 260 and the lower substrate 100,respectively.

FIG. 4B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an LCD in accordance withanother variation of the first embodiment of the present invention. Inthis embodiment, instead of the common electrode 230, the overcoat layer240 is formed on the upper substrate 200 in the foregoing LCD panel, asshown in FIG. 4A.

The LCD panel in FIG. 4B is called an in-plane switching (IPS) mode LCDpanel, and has a common electrode formed on the lower substrate 100. Theother elements are similar to the structures shown in FIG. 4A. Also, thedummy column spacer 260 formed on the overcoat layer 240 is spaced apartfrom the lower substrate 100.

FIG. 4C illustrates a cross-sectional view of an LCD panel in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention. In the LCD panel inFIG. 4B, the overcoat layer 240 is patterned such that it is formed onthe black matrix 210, not on the sealant 300. The others are similar tothe LCD panel in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 4D illustrates a cross-sectional view of an LCD panel in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention. In the LCD in FIG. 4B,the overcoat layer 240 is patterned such that it is not formed on theblack matrix 210. At the end, since the dummy column spacer 260 isformed on the black matrix 210, a gap to the lower substrate 100 becomesgreater. Although the overcoat layer 240 is patterned to be formed onlyon the color filter layer 220 in the drawing, it may be formed on theblack matrix 210 without the dummy column spacers 260.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate plane views of an LCD panel in accordancewith a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the LCD panel according to the second embodimentof the present invention includes a dummy column spacer 260 having anopened portion 262 in each corner region of a substrate. Accordingly,the liquid crystal moves to the corner regions of the substrate moreeasily through the opened portion 262, thereby facilitating a uniformfilling of the liquid crystal. The opened portion 262 may be formed inat least one corner region of the substrates. Other elements, such asthe dummy column spacer 260, may be formed at different locations so asto be spaced apart from the lower substrate 100.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the opened portion 262 formed in the corner regionof the substrate includes a plurality of openings for maximizing aliquid crystal flow. A plurality of openings may be formed at either aconstant interval or an irregular interval.

FIG. 6 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with athird embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the LCD panel includes a lower substrate 100, anupper substrate 200, and a UV sealant 300 between the substrates 100 and200. A plurality of column spacers (not shown) are formed in a pixelregion (a line ‘A’ represents an imaginary line for indicating the pixelregion), and a dummy column spacer 260 is formed inside the UV sealant300 in the dummy region to regulate a liquid crystal flow. Also, adotted line type dummy column spacer 270 may be additionally formed atthe inner dummy region of the dummy column spacer 260 for assisting theregulation of the liquid crystal flow. A liquid crystal layer (notshown) is formed between the substrates 100 and 200.

The dummy column spacer 260 is spaced apart from the lower substrate 100to regulate the liquid crystal flow by the gap. When a liquid crystal isexcessively dispensed on the substrate, the liquid crystal may passthrough the dummy column spacer 260 and contact the UV sealant 300.Thus, the liquid crystal may be contaminated by the UV sealant 300.

To solve the problem, in the third embodiment of the present invention,a dotted line type dummy column spacer 270 is additionally formed insidethe dummy column spacer 260, thereby regulating the excessivelydispensed liquid crystal. The dotted line type dummy column spacer 270may be formed on the lower substrate 100.

The dummy column spacer 260 and the dotted line type dummy column spacer270 formed at various locations will be explained with reference toFIGS. 7A to 7F, which are cross-sectional views taken along line VII—VIIof FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 7A, a black matrix 210, a color filter layer 220, anda common electrode 230 are formed on the upper substrate 200 in thisorder. A plurality of gate lines, data lines, thin film transistors, andpixel electrodes (all not shown) are formed on the lower substrate 100.Column spacers 250 are formed in the pixel region on the upper substrate200 each having a height of the cell gap. The dummy column spacer 260 isformed in the dummy region on the upper substrate 200, in more detail,on the common electrode 230 over the black matrix 210, with a height thesame as the column spacer 250. The dotted line type dummy column spacer270 is formed in the dummy region inside the dummy column spacer 260,more specifically, on the common electrode 230 over the black matrix210, with a height the same as the column spacer 250. Although only onedotted line type dummy column spacer 270 is shown in FIG. 7A, there maybe more than one dotted line type column spacers 270. Both the dummycolumn spacer 260 and the dotted line type dummy column spacer 270 maybe spaced apart from the lower substrate 100 as much as the height ofthe color filter layer 220.

FIG. 7B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an LCD in accordance withanother variation of the third embodiment of the present invention,wherein the dotted line type dummy column spacer 270 is formed on thecommon electrode 230 over the color filter layer 220 instead of beingformed on the common electrode 230 over the black matrix 210.

At the end, since the dotted line type dummy column spacer 270 comesinto contact with the lower substrate 100, the liquid crystal can flowbetween the dotted line type dummy column spacers 270.

FIGS. 7C and 7D illustrate cross-sectional views each showing an LCDpanel in accordance with other variations of the third embodiment of thepresent invention, wherein the overcoat layer 240 is formed on the uppersubstrate 200 instead of the common electrode 230. That is, it is anin-plane switching (IPS) mode LCD panel, with the common electrodeformed on the lower substrate.

FIGS. 7E and 7F illustrate cross-sectional views each showing an LCDpanel in accordance with other variations of the third embodiment of thepresent invention, wherein the overcoat layer 240 is patterned to beformed on the black matrix 210 rather than on the sealant 300.

FIGS. 7G and 7H illustrate cross-sectional views each showing an LCDpanel in accordance with other variations of the third embodiment of thepresent invention, wherein the overcoat layer 240 is patterned so thatit is not formed on the black matrix 210. Since the dummy column spacer260 and/or the dotted line dummy column spacer 270 is formed on theblack matrix 210 rather than on the overcoat layer 240, the gap to thelower substrate 100 becomes greater.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate plane views of an LCD panel in accordancewith a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodimentis similar to the third embodiment, except for that an opened portion262 is formed in a dummy column spacer 260 at the corner regions of thesubstrate. The opened portion 262 formed in the corner region of thesubstrate includes more than one opening for maximizing a liquid crystalflow, as shown in FIG. 8B. The openings may be formed at either aconstant interval or an irregular interval.

FIG. 9 illustrates a plane view of an LCD panel in accordance with afifth embodiment of the present invention, wherein a dotted line typedummy column spacer 270 is formed outside the dummy column spacer 260.

Locations of the dummy column spacer 260 and the dotted line type dummycolumn spacer 270 are shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C. That is, both ofthe dummy column spacer 260 and the dotted line type dummy column spacer270 are formed on the common electrode 230 over the black matrix 210 inthe dummy region, as shown in FIG. 10A. Alternatively, they may beformed on the overcoat layer 240 over the black matrix 210 in the dummyregion, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C. They may be formed on the blackmatrix 210 in the dummy region, as shown in FIG. 10D.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate plane views of an LCD panel in accordancewith a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodimentis similar to the fifth embodiment of the present invention except forthat an opened portion 262 is formed in the dummy column spacer 260 inthe corner regions of the substrate. More than one opened portion 262may be formed in the corner region of the substrate for maximizing aliquid crystal flow. The openings may be formed at either a constantinterval or an irregular interval.

FIGS. 12A to 12D illustrate plane views of an LCD panel in accordancewith a seventh embodiment of the present invention, wherein a seconddummy column spacer 280 is additionally formed inside or outside a firstdummy column spacer 260.

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate an LCD panel each having the second dummycolumn spacer 280 formed outside the first dummy column spacer 260, andFIGS. 12C and 12D illustrate an LCD panel each having the second dummycolumn spacer 280 formed inside the first dummy column spacer 260.

FIGS. 12B and 12C illustrate LCD panels each having the second dummycolumn spacer 280 with an opened portion in at least one of the cornerregions of the substrate. More than one opened portion may be formed ateither a constant interval or an irregular interval. The first dummycolumn spacer 260 may also have an opened portion formed in at least oneof the corners of the substrate. Thus, the first dummy column spacer 260and the second dummy column spacer 280 may be formed at variouslocations.

FIGS. 13A to 13D are perspective views illustrating a method forfabricating an LCD panel in accordance with an eighth embodiment of thepresent invention. Although the drawing illustrates only one unit cell,there may be more than one unit cell.

Referring to FIG. 13A, a lower substrate 100 and an upper substrate 200are prepared to form a dummy region and a pixel region. The dummy regionhas a portion spaced apart from the lower substrate 100.

A plurality of gate lines and data lines (both not shown) are formed onthe lower substrate 100 to cross each other defining pixel regions. Athin film transistor having a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, asemiconductor layer, an ohmic contact layer, source/drain electrodes,and protection film, is formed at every crossed point of the gate linesand the data lines. A pixel electrode is formed at each of the pixelregions connected to the thin film transistor.

An alignment layer is formed on the pixel electrode for an initialorientation of the liquid crystal. The alignment layer may be formed ofone of polyimide, polyamide group compound, polyvinylalcohol (PVA), andpolyamic acid by rubbing, or a photosensitive material, such aspolyvinvylcinnamate (PVCN), polysilioxanecinnamate (PSCN), orcellulosecinnamate (CelCN) group compound by photo-alignment.

A black matrix is formed on the upper substrate 200 for shielding alight leakage from the gate lines, the data lines, and the thin filmtransistors. A color filter layer of red, green, and blue, is formedthereon. A common electrode is formed thereon. An overcoat layer may beadditionally formed between the color filter layer and the commonelectrode.

Silver (Ag) dots are formed on the lower substrate 100, for applying avoltage to the common electrode on the upper substrate 200 after the twosubstrates 100 and 200 are bonded with each other. Alternatively, thesilver dots may be formed on the upper substrate 200.

In an in-plane switching mode LCD panel, a lateral field is induced bythe common electrode formed on the lower substrate the same as the pixelelectrode. Thus, the silver dots may not be formed on the substrates. Asshown in the first to eighth embodiments, the column spacer, the dummycolumn spacer, the dotted line type dummy column spacer, the seconddummy column spacer may be formed on the various locations of the uppersubstrate 200. The column spacer and the dummy column spacer, the columnspacer, the dummy column spacer, and the dotted line type dummy columnspacer, or the column spacer, the dummy column spacer, and the seconddummy column spacer may be formed of photosensitive resin at the sametime with the same height (i.e., at the height of a cell gap). Theforegoing alignment layer is formed on the upper substrate 200.

Referring to FIG. 13B, a UV sealant 300 is coated on the upper substrate200. The sealant may be coated by using a dispensing method or a screenprinting method. However, the screen printing method may damage thealignment layer formed on the substrate since the screen directlycontacts the substrate. Also, the screen printing method may not beeconomically feasible due to a large amount of the sealant loss for alarge substrate.

For example, monomers or oligomers each having both ends coupled with anacrylic group mixed with an initiator, or monomers or oligomers eachhaving one end coupled with an acrylic group and the other end coupledwith an epoxy group mixed with an initiator is used as the UV sealant300.

Then, a liquid crystal 500 is dispensed onto the lower substrate 100 toform a liquid crystal layer. A dispensed amount of the liquid crystal isdetermined by a substrate size and a cell gap. Generally, the liquidcrystal is dispensed more than the determined amount.

The liquid crystal is contaminated once the liquid crystal contacts thesealant 300 before the sealant 300 is hardened. Therefore, the liquidcrystal 500 is dispensed onto the central part of the lower substrate100. A flow speed of the liquid crystal 500 dispensed onto the centralpart is appropriately regulated by the dummy column spacer and thedotted line type dummy column spacer, thereby uniformly spreading theliquid crystal 500 inside the UV sealant 300.

FIG. 13B illustrates that the liquid crystal 500 is dispensed on thelower substrate 100 and the UV sealant 300 are coated on the uppersubstrate 200. Alternatively, the liquid crystal 500 may be dispensed onthe upper substrate 200, and the UV sealant 300 may be coated on thelower substrate 100.

Moreover, the liquid crystal 500 and the UV sealant 300 may be formed onthe same substrate. The liquid crystal and the sealant may be formed onthe different substrates in order to shorten the fabrication timeperiod. When the liquid crystal 500 and the UV sealant 300 are formed onthe same substrate, there occurs unbalance in the fabricating processesbetween the substrate with the liquid crystal and the sealant and thesubstrate without the liquid crystal and the sealant. In addition, thesubstrate cannot be cleaned when the sealant is contaminated before thesubstrates are attached to each other since the liquid crystal and thesealant are formed on the same substrate. Therefore, after coating theUV sealant, a substrate cleaning step may be added.

Referring to FIG. 13C, the lower substrate 100 and the upper substrate200 are attached to each other. The lower substrate 100 and the uppersubstrate 200 may be bonded by the following processes. First, a liquidcrystal is dispensed on one of the substrates. The other substrate isturned by 180 degrees so that the side of the substrate at the upperside having the liquid crystal faces into the upper surface of thesubstrate at the lower side. Thereafter, the substrate at the upper sideis pressed, or the space between the substrates is evacuated, andreleasing the vacuum, thereby attaching the two substrates.

Then, referring to FIG. 13D, a UV ray is irradiated on the attachedsubstrates by using a UV irradiating device. Upon irradiating the UVray, monomers or oligomers are polymerized by the initiator in the UVsealant, thereby bonding the lower substrate 100 and the upper substrate200.

Monomers or oligomers each having one end coupled to an acrylic groupand the other end coupled to an epoxy group mixed with an initiator areused as the UV sealant 300. Since the epoxy group is not reactive withthe UV irradiation, the sealant may have to be heated at about 120° C.for one hour after the UV irradiation for hardening the sealant.

In the meantime, the irradiation of the UV ray to the entire surface ofthe attached substrates may affect characteristics of devices, such asthin film transistors formed on the substrate, and alter a pre-tiltangle of the alignment layer formed for an initial orientation of theliquid crystal.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, the UV irradiation is carried out withmasking the pixel regions inside the UV sealant 300 by a mask 700. Then,the bonded substrates are cut into unit cells. In the cutting step,after forming a scribing line (scribing process) on the surface of thebonded substrates by a scriber, such as a diamond pen with a hardnesshigher than the substrate, a mechanical impact is applied thereto alongthe scribing line by using a breaker (a break process), to obtain aplurality of unit cells at the same time.

Alternatively, a pen or wheel of diamond may be used to carry out thescribing and the breaking in one step, to obtain a unit cell one by one.A cutting device carrying out the scribing/breaking at the same time maybe used in view of an occupied space of the cutting device and arequired cutting time period.

Then, a final inspection is carried out after the cutting. In the finalinspection, presence of defects is verified before the substrates cutinto cell units are assembled into a module, by examining a properoperation of the pixels when a voltage applied thereto is turned on/off.

As explained above, the LCD panel and the method for fabricating thesame of the present invention have the following advantages.

The dummy column spacer and the dotted line type dummy column spacer inthe dummy region facilitate the liquid crystal flow on the substrate,thereby maintaining a uniform cell gap and improving a picture quality.

Also, the dummy column spacer and the dotted line type dummy columnspacer prevent the liquid crystal from contacting the UV sealant.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in a liquid crystal displaypanel and a method for fabricating the same of the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A liquid crystal display panel comprising: first and secondsubstrates facing into each other; a column spacer in a pixel regionbetween the first and second substrates; a dummy column spacer in adummy region between the first and second substrates to regulate aliquid crystal flow wherein the dummy column spacer has at least oneopening corresponding to at least one corner of the substrate, while theportion of the dummy column spacer in the side of the substrate has noopening; a supplemental dummy column spacer adjacent to the dummy columnspacer, wherein the supplemental dummy column spacer is formedsubstantially parallel and along the dummy column spacer, wherein thedummy column spacer and the supplemental dummy column spacer are spacedapart from the first substrate; a UV sealant outside the dummy columnspacer between the first and second substrates; and a liquid crystallayer between the first and second substrates.
 2. The liquid crystaldisplay panel of claim 1, wherein the dummy column spacer has an openedportion in at least one of corner regions.
 3. The liquid crystal displaypanel of claim 2, wherein the opened portion includes a plurality ofopenings fanned at a constant interval.
 4. The liquid crystal displaypanel of claim 2, wherein the opened portion includes a plurality ofopenings formed at an irregular interval.
 5. The liquid crystal displaypanel of claim 1, wherein the UV sealant is outside the supplementaldummy column spacer.
 6. A liquid crystal display panel comprising: firstand second substrates facing into each other; a plurality of gate linesand data lines on the first substrate to cross each other defining apixel region; a thin film transistor at each crossed point of the gatelines and the data lines; a pixel electrode in the pixel region; a blackmatrix on the second substrate; a color filter layer on the blackmatrix; a third layer on the color filter layer; a column spacer on thethird layer over a region vertically overlapping the gate lines and thedata lines; a dummy column spacer on the third layer over the blackmatrix in a dummy region to regulate a liquid crystal flow wherein thedummy column spacer has at least one opening corresponding to at leastone corner of the substrate, while the portion of the dummy columnspacer in the side of the substrate has no opening; a supplemental dummycolumn spacer adjacent to the dummy column spacer, wherein thesupplemental dummy column spacer is formed substantially parallel andalong the dummy column spacer, wherein the dummy column spacer and thesupplemental dummy column spacer are spaced apart from the firstsubstrate; a UV sealant outside the dummy column spacer between thefirst and second substrates; and a liquid crystal layer between thefirst and second substrates.
 7. The liquid crystal display panel ofclaim 6, wherein the third layer is a common electrode.
 8. The liquidcrystal display panel of claim 6, wherein the third layer is an overcoatlayer.
 9. The liquid crystal display panel of claim 6, wherein the dummycolumn spacer has an opened portion in at least one of corner regions.10. The liquid crystal display panel of claim 6, wherein thesupplemental dummy column spacer on the third layer is over the colorfilter layer inside the dummy region of the dummy column spacer.
 11. Theliquid crystal display panel of claim 6, wherein the supplemental dummycolumn spacer on the third layer is over the black matrix inside thedummy region of the dummy column spacer.
 12. The liquid crystal displaypanel of claim 6, wherein the supplemental dummy column spacer on thethird layer is over the black matrix outside the dummy region of thedummy column spacer.
 13. The liquid crystal display panel of claim 6,wherein the UV sealant is outside the supplemental dummy column spacer.14. A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display panel, comprising:forming a dummy region and a pixel region on first and secondsubstrates, the dummy region having a portion spaced apart from thefirst substrate; forming a column spacer and a dummy column spacer onthe second substrate, the column spacer formed in the pixel region andthe dummy column spacer formed in the dummy region and wherein the dummycolumn spacer has at least one opening corresponding to at least onecorner of the substrate, while the portion of the dummy column spacer inthe side of the substrate has no opening; forming a supplemental dummycolumn spacer adjacent to the dummy column spacer, wherein thesupplemental dummy column spacer is formed substantially parallel andalong the dummy column spacer; forming a UV sealant outside the dummycolumn spacer; dropping liquid crystal on the first substrate; and afterthe liquid crystal is dropped on the first substrate, attaching thefirst and second substrates; and irradiating a UV ray on the attachedfirst and second substrates, wherein the forming of the dummy columnspacer and the forming of the supplemental dummy column spacer includeforming the dummy column spacer and the supplemental dummy column spacerspaced apart from the first substrate.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the column spacer and the dummy column spacer are formed at thesame time.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the supplemental dummycolumn spacer is inside the dummy column spacer.
 17. The method of claim14, wherein the supplemental dummy column spacer is outside the dummycolumn spacer.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the irradiating a UVray on the attached first and second substrates is carried out withmasking the pixel region inside the UV sealant.
 19. The method of claim14, further comprising heating the substrates after irradiating the UVray.
 20. The method of claim 14, further comprising cleaning thesubstrates after forming the UV sealant.
 21. The method of claim 14,wherein the forming of the UV sealant outside the dummy column spacerincludes forming the UV sealant outside the supplemental dummy columnspacer.